Tribal Court-State Court Forum

Appointed by the former Chief Justice Ronald M. George in May of 2010 to discuss issues of mutual importance to tribal and state justice systems relating to the recognition and enforcement of court orders that cross jurisdictional lines, the determination of jurisdiction for cases that might appear in either court system, and the sharing of services between jurisdictions. The Forum is charged with identifying issues concerning the working relationship between tribal and state courts and recommending to the Judicial Council ways to address these issues. State Court Judge and a Tribal Court Judge co-chair this committee. Click here to read the news release announcement.

Legislative Chaptered

AB 1618: Tribal Access to Confidential Juvenile Court Files which provides tribal entities and officials with access to confidential juvenile court files and records for children who are members of the tribe or eligible for membership in the tribe. By explicitly including tribes, tribal officials, and tribal entities within the exception to the confidentiality of juvenile court files, the bill will solve a conflict between federal and state law on one side, and juvenile courts on the other.Chaptered as Stats. 2014, Ch. 37, effective January 1, 2015.

Rule and Form Proposals- Drafts

None pending.

Rule and Form Proposals Adopted by Judicial Council

Child Support: Proposal to add a new California Rule of Court that would provide a consistent procedure for the discretionary transfer of Title IV-D child support cases from the state superior courts to tribal courts where there is concurrent jurisdiction over the matter in controversy.

Juvenile Appellate: Proposal to revise the rule governing sending the record in juvenile appeals to clarify that if an Indian tribe has intervened in a case, a copy of the record of that case must be sent to that tribe.

Psychotropic Medication: Proposal to revise rules and forms relating to notice of Indian Tribes.

Tribal Protective Order: Proposal to establish an efficient and consistent statewide procedure for California state courts to register protective orders issued by tribal courts in California; registration of tribal court protective orders will help ensure that law enforcement agencies enforce these orders uniformly and consistently.